As he sat at in front of the microphones with his mother just a few feet in front of him in the first row of seats, Dereck Lively II had every right to gush about his accomplishments – even before he’s ever set foot on an NBA court.
He’s starting the journey to repaying his mother, Katherine Drysdale, for her years of perseverance and toughness – traits that clearly have filtered down to her son.
The battle to beat Hodgkin’s Lymphoma since 2013 has challenged Drysdale and her son. But they each have shown incredible resolve.
“A little bit of history,” Lively volunteered on Monday as he and fellow first-round pick Olivier-Maxence Prosper had their introductory news conference for the Mavericks.
“My mom’s been battling cancer since 2013. Before that, my dad passed two years before. It just seems like there have been a lot of walls in front of us that seems like we can’t get around.
“I’ve seen my mom on days where she can’t even get downstairs. And I’ve seen days where she could barely talk.”
And now, he’s seen her beaming with pride as the Mavericks’ 7-1 center smoothly and thoughtfully answered questions on a wide variety of subjects.
It was easy to see how important his mother has been in his development. Her strength has become Lively’s strength.
“To see where she is right now, right in front of me, to be able to be here at this place, it just makes me want to work harder and makes me want to provide a life for her that’s better than anything that she could possibly get,” Lively said.
And Lively also said his thoughts drift to his father, too.
“Hopefully, he’d say: I’m proud,” Lively said. “I know he’s proud. I know I’ve made my family proud. Just being able to try to carry his name.”
Lively was the 12th overall pick last week in the NBA draft. The Mavericks were picking 10th, but finessed a trade with Oklahoma City to move down two spots, still get Lively and reap other assets in a deal that remains unofficial, although both sides have agreed in principle.
On draft night, the buzz was all about how the 19-year-old Lively reminded Mavericks’ coaches and executives of a young Tyson Chandler from years ago. He was the center who helped guide the Mavericks to the 2011 championship.
Coach Jason Kidd on Monday said that comparison has some validity.
“There are some similarities when you look at Tyson later in his career,” Kidd said. “I hope Tyson won’t be mad, but he (Lively) probably shoots the ball a little bit better than Tyson. The similarity’s great, but you’re talking about a champion.
“Dereck works extremely hard. He’s fulfilled part of his dream, that’s to be drafted. The next part is to be a champion. He’s ready to work. At dinner last night with these two, very mature, ready to work and not afraid to ask a question. That’s exciting as a coach.”
Youthful athleticism was something the Mavericks had virtually none of two seasons ago.
Now, they have Lively and Prosper, as well as Jaden Hardy and Josh Green, both of whom seem primed for bigger and better things.
It’s enough to get Kidd’s blood flowing.
“I’m going to borrow Fin’s quote from draft night: Did you see us play last year?” Kidd said. “When you look at the core of our youth here in Dallas, it’s pretty special. When you talk about Luka, these two young gentleman, Hardy and Josh, that’s a pretty cool core.
“You look around the league, we feel comfortable – or confident – that we can compete with the athletic teams in this league. To be able to get these two . . . You watch the layup line, it won’t just be layups anymore.”
General manager Nico Harrison jumped in and said: “That’s actually a big deal. Let that sink in for a minute” – eliciting laughter from Kidd and the assembled media members.
Lively, who classified the days since Thursday’s draft as “chaotic” because of all the time commitments, averaged 14 points, 14 rebounds and 4.5 blocks as a senior at Westtown H.S. in Philadelphia. He became the No. 1 overall high school recruit in the nation, according to ESPN.
His numbers were modest last season as a freshman at Duke, 5.4 rebounds and 5.2 points per game. However, he averaged 2.4 blocks in just 20 minutes per game.
And, in his last eight games, he averaged 6.9 rebounds while playing 24 minutes per game.
Lively begins his NBA career next month when the Mavericks take their summer-league team to Las Vegas, starting on July 8.
In addition to Lively and Prosper, Hardy will play for that team.
Rookies, especially teenagers, sometimes have a difficult transition to the NBA. Many, like Lively, were in high school 14 months ago. But he seems better equipped to deal with the lifestyle changes than most.
“Just have your circle,” Lively said of how he will deal with the requirements of being a professional on his own. “Have people you can trust and people that aren’t always telling you: yes. There’s got to be people in your life that tell you no and make sure you’re focused.”
It will help, he said, that he has Prosper coming in with him. Both are expected to be contributors for the Mavericks early in their careers and that burden brings with it an element of camaraderie.
“I’m so happy that I’m not alone in this,” Lively said of O-Max. “I got some one else to go through the highs and lows with me. I know he’ll be my brother through this. And I’ll be his.”
Lively also figures to have more than a few meetings with No. 1 overall pick in the draft Victor Wembanyama, who landed down the road in San Antonio.
“I got a chance to exchange a couple words with him,” he said. “He’s a great guy, a great personality. I’m looking forward to the matchup, of course.”
Just as Kidd is looking forward to developing his new players. And you can bet that Chandler will get a chance to work with Lively, too.
As for how he’ll fit in Year One? Kidd said that will depend on how the skillset fits with the Mavericks.
“Creativity in these young men – as we get to know each other in the next couple weeks, I’ll be able to see what they can do that just comes naturally from passing and being unselfish, seeing the next play that’s coming,” Kidd said.
“If they can pass, they will be able to play because we have enough scoring.”
Twitter: @ESefko
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